U.s. Will Bolster Ties To Indonesia

America's Relations With The Nation's Military Were Hurt By Human-rights Abuses.

August 12, 2001|By Jane Perlez, New York Times

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration plans to renew some American ties to the Indonesian military, the most powerful institution in the country but one fraught with human-rights abuses.

The decision is part of an effort to cement stronger ties with Indonesia, one of the most important but unstable countries in Southeast Asia, after the relatively smooth coming to power of the new president, Megawati Sukarnoputri, whose ascent was supported by the military.

The Pentagon once had long-standing ties with the Indonesian military, dating to the early days of the Cold War. But relations have been circumscribed since the early 1990s over human-rights abuses.

Critics of the plan to revive ties say that America's past training of Indonesian troops did little to prevent the widespread abuses, in particular those that accompanied the secession of East Timor from the country three years ago.

In re-establishing military ties, the Bush administration says it would like to help ensure the stability of the country, a vast archipelago that has been riven by separatist movements.

Indonesia is seen as pivotal for the stability of Southeast Asia and, administration officials say, has assumed new significance as the broader region stumbles through an unexpected period of economic downturn and political uncertainty.

In a special gesture, the U.S. trade representative, Robert Zoellick, was dispatched on a detour from India to Jakarta, Indonesia's capital. He arrived there Saturday to discuss a variety of issues. Next month, the Pentagon plans to send Adm. Dennis Blair, the Pacific commander, to begin plans for re-engagement with the army.

But as the administration moves forward, senior members of Congress and human-rights groups warn that the Indonesian military has shown little interest in serious reform. They fear that Megawati, a proud nationalist, will give the military a free hand in crushing a secessionist rebellion building in Aceh, a province.

Gareth Evan, a former foreign minister of Australia who is now president of the International Crisis Group, which specializes in conflict prevention, acknowledged last month that many of Australia's efforts to train a more-professional Indonesian military had "helped only to produce more professional human-rights abuses."

Senior Bush administration officials say, however, that they will take a step-by-step approach that will allow them to exercise positive influence. The army, they argue, stayed mostly on the sidelines during the crisis when Abdurrahman Wahid was removed from power.

"The military has acted with honor and correctness during the transition to democracy," a senior administration official said. "We think that now is the time to think of re-engagement. They have behaved well for the most part."

Administration officials say they plan to stop short of training the Indonesian military and of selling it weaponry, both of which are banned under congressional restrictions. But officials said they had asked Congress to consider some flexibility so that junior Indonesian officers could be trained in operations such as peacekeeping and disaster relief.